Film-strip carrier actuating mechanism for automatic photographic apparatus



P. S. ALLEN FILM STRIP CARRIER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS March 13, 195.1

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the film-strip carrier.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 FILM-STRIP CARRIER ACTUATING MECH- ANISM FORAUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Philip s. Auen. Long Beach, Calif.

Application August 9, 1947, Serial No.' '767,797v

f 6 Claims. 1 My invention relates to automatic photographic apparatusof the character embodied in my copending application, Serial No.648,737, led February 19, 1946, and it has particular reference to themechanism embodied therein for actuating the film-strip carrier toimmerse the previously exposed lm successively into a series of liquidcontaining vessels for developing and fixing the lm. It is a purpose ofmy present invention to pro"- 2 Fig. 'I is an enlarged elevational viewof the film-strip carrier shown in the preceding views.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the entire mechanism schematically.

vide a film-strip carrier vactuating mechanism which embodies uidpressure devicesv for reciprocating the carrier in vertical pathsA coriresponding to the vessels so that theiilm-strip will be successivelyimmersed and reciprocated in each of the various liquids inthe vessels,and in a sequence to effect the complete development and fixing of thephotographs on the film-strip. My invention includes valves for thefluid pressure devices and electro-responsive devices for actuating thevalves in a predetermined sequence as defined by a circuit controller toeffect the intended operationy of the film carrier. The mechanism ischaracterized by its mechanical and electrical simplicity, low cost ofmanufacture and maintenance, and surety of operation to at all timeseffect the complete development and fixing of the photographs on the lmstrip.

I will describe only one form of film-strip carrier actuating mechanismembodying my invention for use in automatic photographic apparatus, andwill then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings: v Fig. 1 is a view showing inl verticalSection and partly in elevation' one form of lm-strip carrier .the line4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional-view taken on the Fig. 6 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of the ,valved means for controlling the supplyof fluid pressure to the cylinder for reciprocating r actuatingmechanism embodying `my invention. .i

Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the cam wheel of the circuitcontroller.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theseveral views.

Referring specically to the drawings and par# ticularly to Fig. 1, ahousing I5 is provided to contain the mechanism of `my invention,l andto this end it is provided interiorly with a shelf I6 supported on beamsI1, while above the shelf I6 is a transverse partition I8l from whichpart of the mechanism depends. On the shelf I6 is suit'- ably secured aplatform I9, and rotatably supported on this platform by means of balls20 is a table 2 I. This table is normally secured against rotation bymeans of a latch 22 as in the apparatus embodied in my aforesaidcopending application.

The table 2I is provided with a central opening 23, and the wall of thisopening as well as the periphery of the platform are provided withupstandingannular flanges 24 and 25 respectively, which coact to confineon the platform a circular series of vessels V each of which, as bestshown in Fig. 2, is of sector formV with its inner and outer endabutting the flanges. A retaining collar 26 of annular form isperipherally provided with a circular series of clamping ugers 21; whichengage the upper inner edges ofthe vseveral vessels to coact with theflanges 24 and described hereinafter is supplied to either end of thecylinder and to eitherside of the piston through hoses 34 and 35, andwhereby the rod 32 can be caused to reciprocate in the operation of acarrier K for a nlm-strip 36 illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 7.

The carrier K is mounted on a pair of extensions 31 depending from across arm 38, this arm being preferably of the construction shown bestin Fig. 2, and provided with suitable openings 38a by which it ismounted for vertical sliding movement on a pair of rods 39. The arm isD- eratively connected to the upper end of the piston rod 32 by a sleeve48, with a collar 4| pinned to the rod, this connection allowingrotation of the arm on the rod and yet maintaining the arm connected tothe rod to be reci-procated thereby. Suitable mechanism is provided forrotating the rods 39 in a step-by-step movement to, in turn, impart acorresponding movement to the arm 38, and whereby the carrier K can bereciprocated vertically in different paths through operation of thepiston. This mechanism may comprise a ratchet wheel 42 to which theupper ends of the rod 39 are secured at diametrically opposed points.This ratchet wheel is journalled on a stub axle 43 secured to anddepending from the partition |8 (see Fig. 5), ball bearings beingemployed, and the wheel confined on the axle by means of a nut 44.

Rotatable on the axle 43 is van arm 45, which carries a pawl 46lpositioned to engage peripheral teeth 42a of the wheel 42 under`swinging movement of the arm to rotate the wheel in a stepby-stepmovement. The arm 45 is actuated by a link 41 connected to a rod 48` ofa piston 49- operating in a cylinder 50.. For steadying the ratchetwheel when at rest andwhilethe carrier K is being reciprocated, asuitablev latchis provided. As shown` in Fig. 3, lthis latchrmaycomprise 'a ball 5| pressed into engagement withthe periphery of thewheel 42 by a spring 52 con tained within a cup 53 adjustable within ablock 54 by means of a screw 55. The ball engages recesses 56 betweenthe teeth 42a of the wheel 42 so as to steady the wheel asaforedescribed, This ball does not interfere with the normalstep-by-step rotation of the wheel under the action of the pawl 46.

Compressed air is adapted to be supplied to the cylinder 58 through avalve mechanism designed generally at M connected to a hose 51.Similarly, compressed air is adapted to be supplied to the hoses 34 and35 by a valve mechanism MI, to which the air is supplied by a pipe 58.As shown in Fig. 1 the mechanism M| is suspended from the shelf I6, andbeneath the sleeve the hoses 61 and 58 are connected to a T pipe 59mounted on and communicating with a conventional form of air compressorC secured on a base 6D. This compressor is adapted to be driven by anelectric `motor 6| likewise supported on the base 6U.

The valve mechanism MI isshownin detail in- Fig. 6, and it may compriseacasting 62 se.- cured to the shelf I6 andconstructed to provide acylinder 63 in which operates a piston valve 64. The valve carriessealing rings 65 and 66 adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and thecasting 62 is formed with ducts 61 and 68 each leading from the cylinder63 to the hoses 34- and 35. The entrance ends of these ducts are so4situated that in one extreme axial position of the piston 64 thecylinder is placed intov communication with one of the ducts, while inthe other extreme position the cylinderis placed into communication withthe other duct, the'v sealing rings 64 and 65 serving to block off oneduct or the other depending upon the axial position of the piston. Thehose 584 is connected Ato the cylinder 63 at a point between A theentranceends of the duct 61 to 68 (see circle in broken lines in Fig. 6)so that compressed air from the compressor will flow into the cylinder63, around the piston 64 and into one duct 61 or 68 according as thepiston occupies one extreme axial position or the other.

The piston valve 84 is normally urged to the right hand extreme positionshown in Fig. 6 by means of a spring 69 interposed between one end wallof the cylinder 63 and the piston valve. This end wall of the cylinderis provided with breather ports 10 to allow free operation of the pistonvalve, and a screw 1| limits outward movement of the piston valve underthe action of the spring 69. The outer end of the piston valve isprovided with a stem 12 engaged by a link 13 pivoted as at 14 on ears 15fixed on the casting 62. The other end cf the link is pivotallyconnected as at 16 to an extension 11 of the core of a solenoid 18secured to the casting 62.

In the Operation of this valve mechanism the piston valve 64 is normallyurged to the position shown by means of the spring 59, and wherein airis free to iiow from the cylinder 63 into the duct 61 to supply airpressure to thev bottomof the cylinder 28. AWhen the solenoid 18 isenergized its core is moved to actuate the link 13 and force the pistonvalve 64 inwardly to place the cylinder 63 in communication with theduct 66, and whereby compressed air is supplied to the top of thecylinder 33.

The valvemechanism M for controlling supply of compress;d air to thecylinder 5|) and to either side of the piston 49 is illustrated indetail in Fig. 4. As here shown, the cylinder is part of a casting 19securedto the partition |8. Also as a part of the casting 19 isv a valvecylinder 80 communicating with the cylinder 58 through ports 8| and 82.A piston valve v83 provided with sealing rings 84 is operable in thecylinder 88 to control the passage of compressed air through the ports8| and 82 to either side of the piston 49. As in the valve mechanism Mlthe piston valve 83 is urged outwardly by means of a spring 85, breatherports 86 being formed in one end wall of the cylinder 8D to allow freemovement of the valve. The valve is provided with a stem 81 engaged by alink 88 pivoted on the casting and pivotally connected to an extension89 to the core of a solenoid 90.

From the description of the valve mechanism MI it will be clear that thevalve mechanism M operates in the same manner to admit compnssed airfrom the hose 51 through the cylinder 80 to either side of the pistondepending upon the position of the piston valve 83.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown one electrical means bywhich current can be automatically supplied to thesolenoids 18 and 9|)`to energizethe latter in the sequence necessary toeffectreciprocationofthe carrier K in difierent vertical paths. This means compriseselectrical circuit D for the solenoid 18 and a circuit E for thesolenoid 90, these two circuits having switches S and Sl, respectively,for controlling the supply of current to the solenoids through a currentsupply circuit F connected in parallzl to lthe circuits D and-Theswitches-S' and-SI are mounted on a frame 9| secured to the shelf-|6, and positioned atopposite sides 0f a wheel 92 Xed to a shaft 93journalled in the frame and adapted to be driven by a motor (not shown).The wheel 92 has a series of cams 94 on oneside thereof and anotherseries of cams 95 on the oDpO- site side thereof. The switches S andSlhave switch opening spring arms V96 'and` 91,A respec- `tively,A with.rollers 98 disposedin the path of movement vof the Acams-94 and 95 sothat under rotation of the Wheel 92 the cams will momentarily close theswitches. The arrangement ofA these cams 94 and 95 is shown in Fig. 10and from the ,legends applied thereto it will be clear as to thefunctions of the cams in respect to closing and the respective vessel V,andto which postion the lcarrier K has just been moved from an elevatedposition in which the film strip has just been extended into the carrierfollowing exposure, as

will be understood from the photographic apparatus described in myaforesaid applcation. Under intermittent energization of the solenoid'I8 compressed airis alternately supplied to first one side and then theother of the piston 33 to effect reciprocation of the carrier into andout of the developing vessel. The carrier K as in the apparatus of myaforesaid application, is provided with a series of diagonally disposedblades or vanes 99 (see Fig. 7) which cause violent agitation of thedeveloping liquid, as well as the other liquids into which the carrieris subsequently immersed, to effect the thorough and completedevelopment, fixing and washing of the film to produce unblemishedphotographs on the film strip as it is nallv delivered tothe vendee.

Following the aforedescribed reciprocation of the carried K in thedeveloping vessel the solenoid 90 is momentarily energized to actuatethe pawl and ratchet mechanism and thus turn the rods 39 to partiallyrotate the arm 38 when the latter is in elevated position. Thus thecarrier K is moved laterally to a position above the vessel immediatelynext to the vessel containing the developing fluid. Manifestly withcontinued intermittent energization of the solenoid 28 the carrier Kwill now be reciprocated into and out of the aforeraid vessel to effecta rinsing of the film strip. This mode of operation of the film carrieris continued throughout the circular series of vessels, it beingunderstood that the carrier K is reciprocated successively in thevarious vessels until the complete fixing and bleaching, etc. of thefilm is effected.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of film-stripcarrier actuating mechanism embodying my invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic photographic apparatus for taking a series ofpictures in sequence on a filmstrip; a carrier for the film-strip;mechanism for rotating said carrier in a step-by-step movement about avertical axis, comprising a ratchet Wheel mounted for rotation about avertical axis, rods fixed to said wheel at opposite sides of its axisand depending from said wheel, an arm mounted on said rods and extendinglaterally therefrom, and to which said carrier is secured, a pawlmounted for oscillation about the axis of said ratchet wheel andengaging the teeth of said wheel, and means for actuating said pawl.

2. Inv an automatic photographic apparatus for.

talring--afseries of" picturesv in sequence 'on a nlm strip; a carrierfor the lm strip; pneumatic means for reciprocating said carrier; meansfor rotating a part of said pneumatic means in a step-by-step movementto cause said carrier to be' reciprocated successively in verticalpaths; pneumatic means for actuating said rotating means; valved meansfor supplying air pressure to both of said pneumatic means; andelectrical Ameans for so actuating said valved means that said carrieris reciprocateda predetermined number of times in each of said verticalpaths.

3. In an automatic photographic apparatus, a film carrier; pneumaticmeans to reciprocate carrier; means pneumatically controlled to rotatesaid film carrier sequentially with the completion of movement thereofin one direction; a valved means for each said rotating means andlreciprocating means; a source of pressure supply for said valved means;a solenoid connected to said valved means; an electrical circuitincluding said solenoids and switches, and rotating means to open andclose said switches, respectively to control the reciprocation androtation of said pneumatic means.

4. In an automatic photographic apparatus, a rotary member mounted toturn on a vertical axis, rods xed to and depending from said member soas to turn therewith, an arm mounted for reciprocation on said rods, afilm carrier supported by said arm, means for rotating said membel` in astep-by-step movement to dispose the carrier in predetermined positions,a fluid pressure cylinder fixed beneath said member, a piston operablein said cylinder in line with the axis of said member and to which saidarm is connected for reciprocation therewith and rotation relativetbereto, and means for effecting and controlling the operation of saidpiston so that said arm and carrier will be reciprocated when saidcarrier is disposed in said predetermined positions.

5. In an actuating mechanism for the film strip carrier of automaticphotographic apparatus, a rotary member mounted to turn on a verticalaxis, rods mounted on said member to turn therewith, a film stripcarrier-supporting element mounted on said rods to turn therewith andreciprocate thereon, a fluid pressure cylinder mounted in line with theaxis of said member, a piston operable in said cylinder and to whichsaid element is connected for reciprocation therewith and rotationrelative thereto, operating means for turning said member in astep-bV-step movement to dispose said element in predeterminedpositions, and means operating in timed reation to said operating means,for applying pressure fluid to said cylinder so as to reciprocate saidpiston and said element when said element is disposed in saidpredetermined positions.

6. In an actuating mechanism for the nlm strip carrier of automaticphotographic apparatus, a rotary member mounted to turn on a verticalaxis, a cylinder and piston unit mounted in line with the axis of saidrotary member, a film carrier-supporting element mounted on the pistonof said unit for reciprocation therewith and rotation relative thereto,means carried by said rotary member on which said element isreciprocable and which will turn with said rotary member, means forturning said rotary member in a step-by-step movement including a pistonand cylinder unit, and means for directing pressure fluid to and fromsaid units in such timed relation that the element for supporting the lmcarrier will be reeprooated ,following each stepby-step movement oflsaid rotary member.

PHILIP S. ALLEN;

RFRENCES CITED The following references are of record in the vfile o'fthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date ,l

432,903 Sacco July 22, 1890 781,377 Springer Jan. 31, 1905 897,251Graves 1 Aug, 25, 1908 1,075,905 Drosser Oct. 14, 1913 1,135,111 Hansonff Apr. 13, 1915 1,233,109 Nesbt July 10, 1917 1,429,270 `Barbe-r Sept.19, 1922 1,512,804 Roucka Oct. 21, 1924 1,637,154 Mark July 26, 19271,825,709 Bacino Oct. 6, 1931 Number Number Y Name' Date Williams Jan.26, 1932 Dye June 21, 1932 Stout July 12, 1932 Schoenberg Sept. 13, 1932Kalbeisch et al. May 15, 1934 Stukenborg Dec. 4, 1934 Bullard Sept. 6,1938 Hunscker Feb. 28, 1939 Ehlers Dec. 10, 1940 Forse July 27, 1943Weskopf Feb. 8, 1944 Allen July 31, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateFrance Apr. 17, 1908 (Addition to 373,782) Germany Mar. 5, 1936

